Honestly didn’t we cover this already a few years back. I want to recall a player like April Larson opted not to sign with WPBA because they would t let her play in regular regional women’s events. I recall a Windows Open episode where LoreeJon really flew off the handle and shit the PR bed. Maybe Dean had a follow-up appearance. They said it wasn’t just about concurrent events. They said a talking point they sell to the casinos is that the marquee names they bring to the venue can be seen at the WPBA events but it dilutes their marketing pitch if those same players can also easily be seen at any mom and pop pool hall robbing a bar box event. It keeps the prestige of the WPBA brand higher to make sure those players are only found at upper echelon events.
The sad thing is that the list of elite WPBA players is too long for how shallow the talent pool is. When you’re talking women that play at a 730+ level, I get it. Kristina, Jasmin, Kelly, Margaret, Seo, Rita, Pia, etc. but when you’re talking second and third tier talent. Junior talent. Kids still grinding their way up and haven’t even crested 700 yet. The only way a pro female at that range can navigate their career is on the wallets of their parents or their spouse. There’s no way a 670 is paying their bills on WPBA and Predator winnings. They’re lucky to cash at all. To take away even the option to grind out winnings at the regional and local level is to kneecap any possibility of building a personal bankroll to fund their travel and entries into these more prestigious events. We’re eating our young and chasing them out of the industry.
